You can count on two things when it comes to water in southern Wisconsin: it’s “hard” and a water treatment system makes a big difference. For many homeowners in Waukesha WI water treatment includes a specialized pitcher stored in the refrigerator. That works for limited amounts of filtered drinking water, but leaves the rest of the household water supply untreated. Impurities in the water are free to flow through your dishwasher, washing machine, faucets and showers. You want clean water for your family, visitors and pets don’t you? A whole-house system is the answer call Waukesha WI plumbers today.
A government study concluded that water is so important to daily health it recommended you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses every day. The quality of your water is key to these health benefits. And, as beneficial high-quality water is to you, it’s equally valuable to appliances and indoor plumbing. Treating your water pays, rather than cost. Adding a water softener can, for example, cut the use of laundry detergent and dishwashing soaps by half or more. It protects your pipes and hot water heater, too. A Water Quality Research Foundation study demonstrated that heaters that are part of a softened water system maintained factory efficiency ratings for up to 15 years. Those with hard water had efficiency reduced by almost 50%.
Even showerheads, faucets and drains benefit from fewer clogs and less mineral buildup. Tests show with hard water, shower heads can lose up to 75% of their flow rate in less than 18 months. Some faucets with strainers clog in as few as two weeks.
Which Water Treatment System Makes Sense
There are two places within your home where water treatment takes place: where the water enters the house and where you use it. Each has benefits and limitations. Consider the following choices:
- At Point of Use – small filtration units treat water where you use it, providing a final barrier between contaminants and users. These are the pitchers in the refrigerator – filled with tap water – and those attached to kitchen taps. Point of use filters use carbon filters and reverse osmosis. Ideal for small uses like drinking and cooking.
- Whole house Point of Entry – this category includes water softeners and large filter systems. Treating water as it enters your home makes sense to protect every user. Large quantities of water for laundry, dish washing, flushing toilets and taking baths and showers is treated efficiently. Carbon filters are also used as well as high-tech ion exchange systems.
Effective water treatment is quickly becoming a requirement for local homes. As technology progresses, residential water treatments get more and more reliable.
Water testing is the first step toward creating the right treatment plan for your home.
Water Testing – Know What You Need
Accurate testing and appropriate treatment dovetail to provide clean water for your family and pets. With proper treatment, drinking water tastes better, soap rinses of in showers, clothing is cleaner and dishes come from dishwashers with fewer water spots.
Failing to test household water can allow dangerous chemicals to remain in the water supply. In addition, without treatment, impurities will make their way into your home causing mineral build-up in expensive appliances, including your water heater.
Seek professional testing from a licensed plumbing service if you notice any of the following:
- Tap water doesn’t taste “right.”
- Your tap water has a peculiar smell.
- You don’t get the kind of lather you want in the shower or suds in the sink or washing machine.
- There’s always a ring around the bath tub.
- You have a crusty build-up on faucets and surfaces.
- Laundry isn’t rinsing properly.
Municipal water gets treated before it reaches your house. If you have a private well, the water doesn’t get this early treatment. Even municipal water can contain particles and organisms that collect in pipes. In-home water treatment systems protect against contaminants city water supplies can carry. Contaminants that can impact your family’s health, skin and hair. They also can put pets, fixtures and plumbing at risk. These impurities may include arsenic that can damage skin and cause serious health issues. Professional filters can also remove nitrates – especially important in private well water – that are a serious risk to small children.
Water Treatment System Installation – A Job For Professionals
There’s no one size fits all solution for residential water treatment. But, when you make the right choice your tap water tastes better, shampoo rinses better, dishes are cleaner and clothing comes out brighter. While water filters and water softeners can be installed as a do-it-yourself project, it’s not ideal. When you select a professional plumbing service you begin with a certified water test and move forward with recommended treatment. Equipment is installed correctly, specifically to treat the needs of your home. In addition, your plumber will troubleshoot your entire home’s plumbing, looking for any part needing attention before the installation is done. Treatment recommendations may include:
- Water softeners
- Water filters of various types
- Reverse osmosis systems
- Ultra Violet light treatments
- Chlorination and/or de-chlorination
- A combination of specialized, customized systems
The hard water in Waukesha and the Lake Country – both in municipal water and personal well water – challenges treatment systems.
Schoenwalder Plumbing has skilled, licensed plumbers to help you review your water treatment needs. Beginning with water testing, our plumbers will determine the correct water filter or water softener for your needs. They’ll install it properly and maintain it for problem-free operation.
If your water doesn’t measure up to your expectations, call Schoenwalder Plumbing at 262-542-7908 and make an appointment to discuss the solutions we have to offer. We’re ready to provide everything you need to protect your family, pets and property from the risks of hard water. Our certified plumbers can install an appropriate system quickly and efficiently. Protecting your prized possessions – people and pets included – is worth the extra effort, isn’t it? Schoenwalder Plumbing provides the right water treatment system anywhere in Waukesha WI and the Lake Country.
CDC – Not All Filters Are Created Equal